Something as Simple as This...

Jake Bugg - Jake Bugg

Unbridled potential. These are the two words that spring to mind after listening to Jake Bugg's debut album. These two words cannot be said for a large amount of today's singer-songwriters. It seems that the acoustic guitar wielder, both male and female, is doomed to walk down a tried and tested path of publicity spanning from indie obscurity through to chart success alongside an allegiance of dangerously fickle fan-girls who will shout "I knew him before he got big!" and then say how your follow up album "was nowhere near as good as the debut". For the sake of Jake Bugg, and for singer-songwriters in general, I hope he doesn't take this path of mediocrity.

Going into this review as a bitter cynic, I was never going to be partial towards Jake Bugg. With his Beatles' haircut and his stupid facial expression that appears to be beyond vacant, I thought it was safe to say that I am probably not his target audience. I imagined that realm being held by a more feminine demographic. However, I found myself constantly saying throughout the album "ok, so that's a good song, and so is that one, and that one... fuck...". Honestly, I don't know whether I was annoyed at the bastard for being good or relieved that he wasn't just another Ed Sheeran doppelganger. Bit of both I guess.

What separates Bugg from the rest of the flock is something that can't be installed in you by a PR man or stylist; attitude. Album opener 'Lighting Bolt' is a brilliantly brash piece of Gallagher-like arrogance. You really can't get much more cocky than sneering "they say you gotta tow the line, they want the water not the wine, but when I see the signs I jump on that lightning bolt" over a Johnny Cash backbeat with some dirty guitars. "Taste It", even with its delightful Simon and Garfunkel rambling section, is also a song packed with attitude and a certain understated swagger that I really hope takes Bugg beyond the realms of a short-lived pop sensation. 

Bugg's apparent influences are exhibited with great effect on the album. 'Someone Told Me' shows that at heart Bugg is a folk singer in Fred Perry jackets and polos. Quite refreshing to be honest. Really sick of turning on the TV and seeing people in glasses and dressed head to toe in tweed and thinking "Oh not the Antiques Roadshow!" only to realise it's some lovely folk darlings on Later With Jools Holland. As mentioned before, it's easy to see the influence of Noel Gallagher and Alex Turner through the beautifully psychedelic 'Ballad of Mr Jones' whilst still maintaining a wonderfully country feel through some Dylan influence. Paints a lovely picture. Almost like Bugg is standing at the edge of desert with a guitar and all the time in the world. 'Fire' is a beautifully rustic reggae recording and 'Seen It All' also shows some lovely influence from Heart; listen really closely and you'll notice the chords used in the opening are the same as that of 'Alone' by the female hard rockers. Bet you didn't think we'd notice that Bugg, you cheeky devil! 

Aside from some beautiful plagiarism on the part of Bugg, lyrically it seems that he is on a level of his own. Too early to put him alongside the likes of Morrissey, Gallagher and Turner, but definitely not too early to think about it. It is really hard to think of anymore names that could really going alongside those three these days. So as well as a good forty odd minutes of music, Bugg has given the British music scene just a little bit more hope and given himself a platform to stardom. 

Album Rating - 8/10